Detachable piano back



March 15, 1938. E. WOR-11111161011 2,110,946

` DETACHABLE PIANO BACK Filed May 6, 1936 Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE PIANO BACK Application May 6, 1936, Seriai No. 78,226

11 Claims.

'This invention relates to the back construction oi upright pianos. Ordinarily, pianos of this kind are uncovered at the back, or at most have only a covering of cloth, as a piano oi this kind is ordinarily designed to stand against the wall.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a novel and improved construction whereby pianos of this type are provided with an ornamental back that makes it possible for the piano to stand out in the middle of the room, if such is desired, without presenting an unsightly appearance, said back being readily attachable and detachable at the back of the piano casing, and being provided with means for the free passage of the sound waves.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction tending to increase the general efliciency and the desirability of a piano back of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a perspective of a piano, viewed from the rear, having a back embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical section on line 2 2 in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a portion of a similar back, showing a different form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a diierent form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view, showing the material used for the back shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on line 6 5 in Fig. 3 of the drawing, showing the adjacent portion of the piano casing.

As thus illustrated, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention comprises a rectangular frame i, divided vertically7 into panels by the upright portions 2 thereof, and provided at the lower corners of the frame with feet 3 that may engage the iioor, providing space under the lower edge of the frame. The spaces or panels formed by the uprights 2 are occupied by the louvers 4, which extend horizontally therein, and which provide air spaces between them for the passage of the sound waves from the back of the sounding board of the piano.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6 of the drawing, the ends of the frame I are preferably provided with inwardly projecting metal hooks 5, adapted to engage the metal studs 6, carried by the end walls of the piano casing. The latter is formed.

with shoulders or seats l, at the opposite ends thereof, to receive the end portions of the back, and when the latter is moved into position, the said hooks will snap over the studs 6 and hold the back tightly against the said seats or shoul'A 5 ders.

However, any suitable fastening means can be employed, for permitting easy insertion and removal oi the back, and the devices shown are merely illustrative of one means for this purpose. 10

In Fig. 3, the construction is similar to that described, except that in this case a cloth 8 is employed for the panels of the back, instead of the louvers previously described.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the construction is 1,5.

similar to that shown in Fig. 3, except that in this case cane wicker-work 9 is employed for the panels, instead of the cloth.

With a rectangular back, of the kind shown and described, which is illustrative of the invention, the piano may be allowed to stand out in the room, instead of against the wall, without presenting an unsightly appearance, for the back is not only of a character to permit free escape of the sound waves, but is also ornamental, thus presenting a satisfactory appearance. The back can be easily taken off, to permit dusting or cleaning of the interior of the back portion of the piano, or for any other purpose.

Thus it will be seen that practically the entire back of the piano, forming a screen for the interior thereof, is removable when necessary or desirable. For this purpose the vertical side edges i3 of the back or screen engage the rear edges of the side walls il of the piano, at l, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, while the upper edge l2 of the said screen or back engages the under side of the top wall I3 of the piano, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Thus, as shown and described, the back of the piano is screened and covered, and has an ornamental appearance, but without interfering with the passage or release of the sound waves from the back of the piano casing.

Also, it will be seen that the removable and ornamental sound releasing screen or back thus provided for the back of the piano casing is substantially flat and provides a substantially flat and ush rear side of the piano casing. In this way, if desired, the piano can be placed with its back against the wall, in the ordinary manner, but in addition it can be used with its back facing the room, as it presents an attractive appearance when viewed from the back.

It will also be seen that the rear side of the easing, when the back or Screen is not in place, is open coextensivcly with the height and width of the interior thereof, as `the casing has not fixed rear wall sections, the necessity of the latter being obviated by the detachable ornamental back OI' SOllnd releasing Screen.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In an upright piano casing, a removable back therefor forming partically the entire rear side of said casing, being practically coextensive with the rear side of the casing, presenting a nished appearance for the entire back of the piano, comprising a vertical framing having sound releasing means therein, forming a screen for the interior of the casing, and means to detachably fasten the frame to the casing, whereby said back is entirely removable bodily, said framing having a plurality of vertical members dividing the piano back into a plurality of vertically disposed panels, each panel comprising horizontally disposed and outwardly inclined louvers.

2. In combination with the casing of an upright piano, and the flat top thereof, a removable back therefor presenting a iinished appearance for the entire fiat rear side of the piano, extending vertically from said top to the floor, having means to permit the free passage of the sound Waves, said back comprising a rectangular vertical flat framing having straight top and side edges formed to t the piano easing, with said sound releasing means fastened within said framing, so that the latter and its sound releasing means form practically the entire rear side of the piano, and separable fastening means between the inner side of the frame and the piano casing, whereby said back is easily attachable to and detachable bodily from the rear side of the piano casing, said back being divided vertically into a plurality of panels with horizontal louvers forming said sound releasing means in each panel.

3. In an upright piano casing the rear side of which is open coextensively with the height and width of the interior thereof, a removable back therefor forming practically the entire rear side of said casing, being practically coextensive with the rear side thereof, thereby obviating the necessity of any xed rear wall sections for the casing, presenting a finished appearance for the entire back of the piano so that when removed the entire rear side of the piano is open, comprising a vertical framing having sound releasing means therein, forming in its closed position a sound releasing and ornamental screen for the entire` interior of the casing, and means to detachably fasten the frame to the casing, whereby said back is entirely' removable bodily, said framing having a plurality of vertical members dividing the piano back into a plurality of vertically disposed panels, each panel comprising sound releasing means fixed therein.

4. In combination with the casing of an upright piano, a removable back therefor presenting a iinished appearance for the entire at rear side of the piano, extending vertically from the top of the casing to the floor, having means to permit the pree passage of the sound waves, when the back is in closed position, said back comprising a rectangular vertical flat framing having straight top and side edges formed to t within the rear edges of the top and side walls of the casing, with said sound releasing means fastened within said framing, so that the latter and its sound releasing means form practically the entire rear side of the piano, thereby obviating the necessity of any xed rear wall sections for the casing, and fastening means whereby said back is easily attachable to and detachable bodily from the rear side of the piano casing, said back being divided vertically into a plurality of panels with said sound releasing means xed in each panel.

5. The combination of a top wall, fixed side ing means xed in said back wall, and fastening w means to permit the said back wall to be removed bodily.

6. A structure as specified in claim 5, said back wall being formed all in one single section.

'7. A structure as specified in claim 5, the upper edge of said back wall being set under the rear edge portion of said top wall, and the rear edges of the side walls being formed to provide a seat for the side edge of the back wall.

8. A structure as specified in claim 5, said sound releasing means comprising louvers to deiiect the sound outwardly and upwardly.

9. A structure as specified in claim 5, said sound releasing means comprising porous cloth.

10. A structure as specified in claim 5, said sound releasing means comprising reticulated or apertured webbing.

11. A structure as specified in claim 5, said removable back wall extending practically to the floor.

EVERETT WORTHINGTON, 

